Concerns rise for COVID-19 Delta variant in West Tennessee

JACKSON, Tenn. — The surge of the COVID-19 Delta variant is now causing concern for some people in West Tennessee, leaving health experts to answer the question how did something like this happen?

“Toward the end of 2020, we started to see these variants pop up, which essentially are just slightly different versions of the virus,” said Dr. Nick Hysmith, medical director of infection prevention at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Hysmith says unvaccinated individuals are the main concern with the Delta variant.

“We know that the vaccine is effective for preventing severe illnesses from the Delta variant,” he said.

Dr. Hysmith also says with new reports of Delta variant cases rising in the state of Mississippi among children, this can be a concern for children in West Tennessee.

“Our population is very similar to that population in Mississippi, with around the same number of vaccinated versus unvaccinated individuals,” said Dr. Hysmith.

Dr. Hysmith says it has been proven the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are more effective in preventing the Delta variant versus the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. However, he says being vaccinated with either of them is better than not being vaccinated to help fight COVID -19.

“I would just urge everybody to please, if you’re greater than 12, please be vaccinated,” Dr. Hysmith said.

For more information about the Delta variant, you can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.